Quality Assurance Manager

Ocado Retail Ltd; Hatfield; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading online supermarket is seeking a Quality Assurance Manager in Hatfield to oversee the Quality Management System and ensure product safety and compliance. The role involves managing a small team, monitoring food safety standards, and reporting KPI targets to leadership. Ideal candidates have a degree in Food Technology, extensive QA experience, and strong skills in data governance. The position offers a hybrid working model and a variety of benefits including private medical insurance and a pension scheme.

Benefits

Private medical insurance

Annual bonus scheme

Company discounts at M&S

Free breakfast daily

26 days holiday plus flexible bank holidays

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in a Technical or Quality Assurance role in Retail/Manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of Quality Management Systems principles.
• Level 3 or 4 HACCP qualified (highly desirable).

Responsibilities

• Manage Quality Management System (QMS) for Ocado Own Brand products.
• Ensure food safety compliance and product legality.
• Compile Technical KPI targets for Leadership Team.

Skills

Technical or Quality Assurance experience

Knowledge of Quality Management Systems

Data accuracy and governance

Crisis management procedures knowledge

Team management

Education

Food Technology degree or equivalent

Job description

Vacancy Name: Quality Assurance Manager

Vacancy No: VN1154

Job Type: Permanent

Location: Hatfield

Job Details

Quality Assurance Manager

Contract type : Permanent

Location : Hatfield (Hybrid working - 3 days in the office)

Working hours per week : 40 hours (Full Time)

Level : Manager

Application Closing Date : Friday 12th December

About us

Our mission is to deliver joy in every shop, through unbeatable choice, unrivalled service, and reassuringly good value.

We’re Ocado Retail , a market‑leading joint venture between Ocado Group and M&S, and the world’s largest dedicated online supermarket, . Not only is Ocado.com the only place to shop a full range of M&S food online, it’s also the home to the widest online supermarket range in the UK and champion of small, independent brands. We’re also the brains behind , our same‑day grocery delivery service.

About the team and the role

The Quality Assurance Manager supports the Technical and Compliance Lead and the wider Technical team in ensuring product safety, quality, and legality across the Ocado Own Brand range. This role is primarily focused on the day‑to‑day operation and continuous improvement of the Quality Management System (QMS), monitoring food safety compliance, ensuring key technical data accuracy and governance, and reporting and resolving non‑compliance issues across all Ocado Retail SKUs.

What you’ll do

Key Responsibilities

• Operating and maintaining the Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring all technical governance policies and procedures are adhered to for Ocado Own Brand products.
• Managing and monitoring food safety compliance and product legality across the Own Brand range.
• Ensuring data governance and accuracy within the Own Brand product specification system.
• Compiling, managing, and reporting on Technical KPI targets to the Leadership Team, with a focus on non‑compliance trends and performance.

Accountabilities

• Implementing and maintaining the company’s high technical standards across all categories through effective QMS operation.
• Maintaining accurate technical data and documentation for compliance and reporting.
• Engaging with internal stakeholders to embed product safety, compliance, and quality into everything we do.
• Oversee the performance, professional development, and daily activities of a team of three direct reports.

Supporting the Own Brand supply base on

• Product quality monitoring activities and improvement plans.
• Assisting with supplier audit scheduling and follow‑up on corrective actions.
• Monitoring quality against QAS benchmark standards and reporting deviations.
• Supporting the development of strong partnerships and efficient ways of working with the Own Brand supply base.
• Assisting with ongoing supplier risk assessment and monitoring.

Supporting the wider supply base on

• Managing branded product data accuracy.
• Assisting with the review and control of supplier and product risk for small branded suppliers.
• Supporting the technical and compliance elements of product setup across brands and Ocado Own brand.

Who you are

• Minimum 5 years of experience in a Technical or Quality Assurance role within a Retail and / or Manufacturing environment.
• Food Technology (or similar) relevant degree or qualification.
• Strong working knowledge of Quality Management Systems (QMS) principles and operation.
• Adept in managing and interpreting technical data, with a focus on data accuracy and governance.
• Knowledge of product risk and crisis management procedures.
• Expertise in writing and embedding policy.
• Experience in managing and developing a team.
• Level 3 or 4 HACCP qualified (highly desirable).
• Level 3 or 4 Food Hygiene Certificate (highly desirable).
• Internal Auditor or Lead Auditor qualified (desirable or equivalent experience).

What’s in it for you

By joining Ocado Retail, you’ll have the chance to experience life at the world’s largest online retailer, work with an amazing bunch of people who challenge what’s possible each day, and grow your skills and career in online retail.

If that’s not enough to tempt you, you’ll also get access to loads of great benefits to sweeten the deal. Here’s a taste of what we offer :

Health & Wellbeing : Private medical insurance with option to add your family, Digital GP appointments, market‑leading family policies, mental health support, discounted gym memberships, dental insurance, and more.

Spend & Save : Annual bonus scheme split between personal and business objectives, recognition with reward platform, up to 7% matched pension contributions, 15% Ocado discount, 20% M&S discount, free breakfast every day in the office, electric vehicle leasing scheme, and free shuttle bus from Hatfield station to the office.

Never miss the moments that matter : Hybrid working, 26 days holiday plus 8 flexible bank holidays, options to buy extra holiday, 2 weeks work from anywhere, and lifestyle break opportunities.

Our Hiring Process

Lucky for us, we receive a high volume of applications and genuinely appreciate the time and effort invested by every candidate. To ensure a fair and thorough process, every application is reviewed by a member of our team. If your skills and experience are a strong match, a Talent Partner will contact you to discuss the role and guide you through the next steps of our hiring process.

Your Application and AI

In the spirit of innovation, we welcome you to use AI tools in your application, just as we use them in our own business at Ocado Retail. However, as you leverage this technology, please don't lose sight of the most important element : your unique self. Your experiences, passions, and personality are what truly set you apart. Ensure that your application still authentically conveys who you are and why you're a great fit for us.

Everyone’s welcome